Why young adults are now struggling more than older people worldwide

FILE PHOTO: Two 15-year-olds use social media on their mobile phones in Arinaga, on the island of Gran Canaria

FILE PHOTO: People use social media on their mobile phones in Arinaga, on the island of Gran Canaria, Spain, February 3, 2026. REUTERS/Borja Suarez/File Photo

Source: REUTERS

A new Sapien Labs report says the world is seeing a major generational reversal in wellbeing as young adults are now doing worse than older people on measures of ‘mind health,’ a broad indicator of how well people can cope, focus, manage emotions and sustain relationships.

The report finds that adults 55 and older have a Mind Health Quotient (MHQ) score around what researchers describe as “normally expected,” with about 10% experiencing clinically significant challenges. By contrast, those aged 18 - 34 average a much lower MHQ score, and 41% fall into the “mind health crisis” category.

Sapien Labs founder and chief scientist Dr Tara Thiagarajan says the issue is bigger than depression and anxiety. “The mind health crisis appears to be a progressive slide from generation to generation,” she said, with many young adults struggling with emotional control, focus and relationship management.

The report points to early-life smartphone use, diet changes, weaker family bonds and declining spirituality as key drivers, and argues the gap widened sharply around the Covid-19 period and has persisted since.

Further, the report calls for policy responses including tighter rules on phone use in schools, minimum ages for social media access and closer scrutiny of additives in ultra-processed foods.

This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.

Portia Etornam Kornu [email protected]